Hays CISD announces new hires

BUDA — Following closed session, the Hays CISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved several hirings at its regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 22.

Current Pfluger Elementary School Principal Elizabeth Lara was selected to become the first principal for Jim Cullen Elementary School, which will open in August. Mark Torres, current head football coach for Pebble Hills High School in El Paso will become the athletic coordinator and head football coach for Hays High School. Lastly, Alan Duerr, deputy chief technology officer for Hays CISD, has been promoted to chief technology officer.

“For all three of these positions, we had an outstanding number of applicants and we had high quality individuals,” said Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright. “That’s a testament to you, as a board, for creating an employee-friendly school district and also providing resources in order to make this a destination district.”

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Elizabeth Lara

Elizabeth Lara[/caption]

Lara previously served as an assistant principal at Lehman High School and is now the principal at Pfluger Elementary School. She has a total of 13 years of experience as an educator, including nine within the Hays CISD family. Before becoming a teacher, she spent the early 2000s in corporate management. She is a dedicated administrator who is skilled in supervising staff, establishing special program and creating a stimulating, safe and motivating learning environment for students.

“Education was not my first career, but it is definitely the one that I am the most passionate about,” said Lara. “My goal as an administrator is to make a positive difference in the education of our students.”

Lara holds a master’s in education, public school administration, from Texas A&M University at College Station. She is also familiar with the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, which the district is considering piloting at a couple of schools, including Jim Cullen Elementary School.

“She really stood out to us because this particular campus is going to be an IB campus and she has previously taught at an IB campus in Houston,” Dr. Wright said. “We are excited for her to make the move from one campus to the next.”

Dr. Wright added, “Friends at Pfluger, just know we’ve got you covered. We are going to post this as soon as we can [and] we are going to make sure that we get you an outstanding principal as well.”

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Mark Torres

Mark Torres[/caption]

Torres, who has worked for 21 years in education, began his career as a student health teacher in 2003 at Irvin High School in El Paso. His years of teaching include both elementary and high school experience, all in the El Paso area.

As a coach, he has worked in various positions in football and track, eventually earning him the head track coach position at Irvin High School in 2007. In 2008, he was named an assistant head football coach for the offensive line. Under his leadership in 2009, as the Austin High School (El Paso) defensive coordinator, that team made it to the state football playoffs. In 2015, Torres was named the athletic coordinator and head football coach for Pebble Hills High School, where he worked before being selected to lead the Hays High School program.

“It’s a position that leads an entire community, not just one team. I do believe wholeheartedly in three very important things: character, commitment and culture. Those are the things you have to fight for every single day because challenges come from all different directions,” coach Torres said, addressing the board. “As a leader of a community and an athletics department — not just the football team and not just male athletics — but to create something that everybody on our campus and in our community to be proud of for you all.”

Dr. Wright said that he was inspired by coach Torres’ goals for the athletics departments at Hays High School.

“One of the things that impressed me about coach Torres is that he believes in building a program from the ground up, making sure that the feeder patterns are included and that the middle schools have systems in place and that they are supported by the high school staff,” Dr. Wright said. “[And] making sure that we retain our good athletes within the programs. Also, he wants a robust and well-rounded program for both the girls’ athletic department, as well as the [boys’] athletic department. That’s exciting and it’s about building athletes, but it’s more important that he builds great human beings.”

Torres holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science with a minor in secondary education from the University of Texas at El Paso. He also earned a Master of Education in Sports Administration from Concordia University. He serves on the Texas High School Coaches Association Board of Directors, has a number of championships to his name and he was named the El Paso Times All City Coach of the Year in 2017.

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Alan Duerr

Alan Duerr[/caption]

Duerr has been a part of the Hays CISD technology department for more than 22 years. He began in 2001 as a district network coordinator. In 2008, he was named the director of network services and, in 2020, was promoted to deputy chief technology officer for the district. Before joining the Hays CISD team, Duerr had an impressive 18-year career in the private sector working at National Instruments and also the Lockheed Missiles and Space Company.

“I’m looking forward to continuing the exceptional culture of success and achievement we have cultivated in the Hays CISD technology department,” said Duerr. “Under my leadership, the team will remain focused on customer service, using technology to its fullest capacity to enhance learning and activities in the classroom, cyber-security and maximizing resources to get the best deal for our taxpayers.”

Duerr holds a number of prestigious technology industry certifications and an Associate’s of Applied Sciences from Austin Community College. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1976 to 1980. And, in 2019, he was named the Hays CISD Administrator of the Year.

“He’s one of the smartest individuals, as far as technology, that I have ever met. The great thing about interviewing is sometimes, you don’t get to work closely with people until you sit down and talk with them … I got to tell you, Mr. Alan Duerr brought it in the interviews and he totally impressed everyone on the committee. He has a passion for Hays CISD, he loves this place,” Dr. Wright said.